Jamaica

Jamaica Public Service Company Limited (JPS) is inviting applications for engineering, procurement and construction services of a 115 MW utility-scale solar plant, 171.5 MWh battery energy storage system and 12 MW wind plant at unspecified locations at unspecified locations in the Caribbean country.

The Jamaican government is seeking 100 MW of renewables to diversify its energy grid, with independent power producers to generate this capacity through wind, solar, and hydro projects recommended under power purchase agreements (PPAs), according to tender documents.

Jamaica’s prime minister Andrew Holness revealed that an international consortium is planning to build a pumped-hydro storage project that has already secured preliminary approval. The project, which will also include deep-sea desalination, is currently undergoing technical and due-diligence reviews.

The Jamaican government has tendered a solar project intended at powering a water treatment plant and has also announced it will power, with PV, all irrigation systems operated by the National Irrigation Commission.

The islands of the Caribbean have been focusing on the deployment of storage solutions, minigrids and microgrids in response to the damage their power systems suffered during the 2017 hurricane season. But with the opportunities, there are also challenges.

Neoen has completed the 51 MW Paradise Park solar plant in the Caribbean. The facility will generate electricity for the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited for US$85/MWh over 20 years.

Jamaica is currently targeting a 30% share of renewables in its energy mix by 2030. However, the nation’s prime minister says, “We can do better.”

A loan of $64 million was awarded by French development bank Proparco and Dutch peer FMO. The facility will deliver electricity to the Jamaica Public Service Company Limited at a price of $85/MWh over 20 years.

The Jamaica Public Service Company (JPSCO) has announced the start of construction on a new hybrid storage facility set to provide spinning reserve power to the country’s grid. The project, according to JPSCO, is the first of its kind in the Caribbean and will be completed by April 2019.

Jamaica’s largest PV project will be located at Paradise Park, Westmoreland, and will sell power to the local grid at $0.0854/kWh.